334 
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE TERRITORIAL CON- 
SERVATION COMMISSION OF HAWAII. 
Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov. 14th, 1908. 
Honorable W. F. Frear, Governor of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. 
Sir : — The Territorial Conservation Commission of Hawaii has 
the honor to submit herewith a preliminary report on the nature 
and present condition of the natural resources of the Territory, 
together with certain recommendations looking to their proper 
development and wise use. 
The duty of the Commission is to inquire into the natural re- 
sources of the Territory, to bring together the available informa- 
tion in regard to their present condition, and in cooperation with 
the National Conservation Commission and the Conservation 
Commissions of other states and territories to assist in formulat- 
ing plans whereby the material resources of the Nation as a whole 
and of this Territory in particular may be wisely and conserva- 
tively used "in such a way as to promote the greatest good of the 
greatest number for the longest time." 
The whole economic fabric of the Territory of Hawaii is closely 
bound up with the right use of its natural resources. Although 
politically an integral part of the Union, in situation Hawaii is 
remote from the other states and territories. Notwithstanding 
this fact even a casual inspection of the local problems of con- 
servation shows that the majority of them are shared in common 
by Hawaii and by mainland states. The possibility of any exten- 
sive development of the resources of Hawaii depends on the con- 
tinued prosperity of the mainland. The prosperity of the main- 
land rests in turn on the wise use of the sources of national wealth. 
Consequently both because of its own local problems and because 
of the relation that the wise use of the resources of the mainland 
bears to the question, Hawaii takes a real and vital interest in 
Conservation and in all that pertains thereto. 
The natural resources of Hawaii are waters, soils and forests. 
Minerals can at present hardly be said to claim a place in the list, 
although recent developments in the making of lime from coral 
sand are an indication that as the result of a comprehensive 
investigation cement making and perhaps other industries depend- 
ent on mineral wealth could also be developed. Incidentally it may 
be remarked here that certain red earths, not uncommon in the 
Territory, have long been used locally in the preparation of paints. 
Hawaii is essentially a country dependent on agriculture. From 
its geographic position, its sub-tropical clmiate, and the peculiari- 
ties of its topography, irrigation plays a large and increasingly 
important part in the economic development of the Territory. 
The main industry is the production of sugar cane. Of the fifty 
